Our enthusiastic Bushcare group teamed up with Shannon, Paul and Jess from the Quoll Society Australia to assist with preparation and planting of over 2000 trees on Granite Belt properties.

Our next job will be on 14 November 2024. We will be working together with the Stanthorpe Rare Wildflower Consortium to weed around some critically endangered native plants. If you would like to join us, please contact Geraldine at community@gbsan.org.au

Word is getting out about this important project which aims to join up wildlife corridors/stepping stones across the Granite Belt to assist with survival of our wonderful and unique native fauna and flora. Currently we have 34 landholders who have signed up to the project. We are aiming to have 150 landholders involved in the project within the next 12 months.

Our stall at the annual Stanthorpe Trading and Gardenfest was well received with 4 new members signed up, as well as 4 more landholders joining our Granite Belt Landscape Linkages project. Queenie the Quoll attracted many people. Everyone we talked to expressed excitement at seeing quolls on properties.

The recent release of the draft Renewables Regulatory Framework is a welcome significant step in the right direction. Supported by the Queensland Farmers Federation, Agforce and the QLD Conservation Council, the framework will go a long way to ensuring regional Queenslanders are adequately consulted.

Donate to the GBSAN garage sale or visit on Saturday 9 November to pick up some bargains!

The Southern Downs and Granite Belt Bird Places Brochure includes a self-drive map and an extensive  list of known bird watching hot spots as well as a description of the types of birds most likely to be  spotted at each place. 

Toby’s talk at our September meeting focussed on the BA’s Plastic Free Places campaign and how GBSAN could get involved.

The GBSAN general meeting on Sunday 22nd September was a great update on all the activities we’ve been involved with recently. Congratulations to everyone involved in organising and participating in the activities and projects. Thanks to all GBSAN members for your support, without which none of this would be achieved.

The Community Engagement Team has been instrumental in raising awareness, educating the community, and promoting sustainable practices in the Granite Belt. Over the past year, the team has achieved significant accomplishments, including:

There are lots of good things happening on the sustainability front on the Granite Belt. A number of projects that have been stalled over the past several years are gaining momentum or coming to fruition.

This is a summary of the Renewables Recycling Summit in Toowoomba held in August.

Read an update about our new bushcare group, which meets monthly to remove invasive weeds from bush areas around the Granite Belt. If you’d like to join in, please contact community@gbsan.org.au.

Updates about the recent movie night, upcoming GBSAN events at the Eco Expo and Gardenfest, as well as the Linkages project and new weedbusters group.

Fire ants infest around 600,000 ha in South East Queensland in Greater Brisbane and Toowoomba regions, and Northern NSW in the Northern Rivers. Fire ants are one of the world’s worst invasive species, with the ability to severely impact our environment, economy, agricultural industries, health, and our Australian way of life.

All GBSAN members and potential members are invited to a general meeting on Sunday 22nd September 2024 from 2 to 4pm at the RSL Lower Meeting Room. Team leaders and members of each group/team in the network will update the group and briefly inform the members of their progress.

Some notes on water for those members interested.

GBSAN is gratified to hear that our proposal to introduce a Household Chemical Waste scheme has been adopted by the Southern Downs Regional Council. By voting to endorse the trial, the Council has shown their commitment to the responsible disposal of pollutants, which will help to reduce the chemical burden on regional ecosystems.

Community Engagemetn updates including a new Weedbusters group reducing the impact of invasive weeds, Landscape Linkages Project & Movie Event

Updates from the Water group.

The Acacia Creek population of platypuses was much reduced through the 2019 dry. Only the odd one has been seen since. The ‘house’ dam did not refill until early in 2024. But this week, for the first time since 2019, an adult and a baby platypus have been seen in the dam. It is very exciting and a testimony to the resilience of the platypus so long as they are given a go.